No tool locking key-hole plug

ABSTRACT

The invention is a locking mechanism for securing two solid wood, particle wood and fibreboard panels. It requires “no tools” to secure the panels, and the panels are secured by inserting a headed shank into a slotted plug receiver member. The purpose of the invention is to provide a fast and convenient way for securing two home or office furnishing panels together without the use of tools. The advantage of the invention is to present the end consumer with a truly “no tools” assembly of furnishing systems. The headed screw and slotted plug combination will initially be presented in a “no tools” line of furniture. Other possible applications include: store display fixtures, installation of blinds and drapery, and shelving.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a home or office furnishing unit, and more particularly to an attachment structure for pieces of home or office furnishing unit.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the home and office furnishing industry, it is necessary to provide an attachment structure for the piece of furnishing unit being manufactured. For instance, a desk includes a horizontal top panel and vertical side panel which needs to be mated together, and a bed includes a frame on which the mattress and box spring are placed. A bed frame is typically made up of four posts being connected by side rails. Cross members along the length of the bed are then used to span the gap between the side rails, and the mattress and box spring are placed on top of the cross members. A decorative headboard and footboard may also be provided for ornamental purposes. The headboard and footboard may be formed either separately from or integral with the bed frame itself. As another example, in some desk, the panel members, which are analogous to bed posts, are connected by side members, which can be analogized to bed side rails. When properly assembled, the joints between the members will be secure and neatly finished.

Over time and with use, however, the connection between the panel members beings to loosen and otherwise degrade. Though still structurally sound and capable of supporting a load, the slack developing in the joints will cause the piece of furniture to wobble slightly, which may make the occupant physically uncomfortable. This movement may further cause an undesirable aesthetic effect on the home or office furnishing unit, as a piece of the unit with a small gap between its components is unattractive and unsightly by comparison to a well finished, newly assembled product. The movement may also cause the finish of the piece of home or office furnishing unit to become marred as various parts rub against one another. In addition, squeaking or creaking noises may be caused as the components move with respect to one another.

To avoid or remedy these problems, the owner must periodically inspect the joints on the piece of home or office furnishing unit and make adjustments as necessary. Where an appropriate adjustment is impossible, for example, where a screw has become stripped, the owner will be required to replace parts entirely. This becomes both time consuming and expensive. Furthermore, a simple repair may even be impossible, as there may be no user-serviceable connection between the members. In most cases, with current industry standard attachments, no repair can be made by the consumer to alleviate movement. In these cases, the owner will be forced to purchase an entirely new piece of home or office furnishing unit or perform a difficult and lengthy reconstruction of the damaged piece.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a home or office furnishing structure or system that has improved durability and stability over existing home or office furnishing structures or systems.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a home or office furnishing structure or system that is simple to manufacture and assemble.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a home or office furnishing structure or system that will substantially eliminate slack in its joints over time.

Still yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a single home or office furnishing system adaptable to multiple different pieces of home or office furnishing units.

To achieve these objectives, there is provided a home or office furnishing structure generally including a novel device of a headed shank acceptable with a plug receiver member which can be economically produced and inserted with a minimum of labor in two work pieces which are to be held in juxtaposed position.

A securing plug receiver member used in conjunction with a headed screw to lock two furniture parts, panels, or the like. The securing plug receiver member is formed from molding ply-vinyl-chloride or Nylon. The securing plug receiver member is round in shape with hollow center. A hole is routed into the complementary wood panel approximately 11 mm to 14 mm in diameter (depending on first preferred or second preferred embodiments of the plug receiver member) which are slightly smaller than the actual diameters of the plug receiver members. The plug receiver members are secured into the wood panels by placing the plug receiver members into the routed hole and applying pressure.

Now describing the first preferred embodiment, a securing plug receiver member has a key hole aperture with a horizontal slot along the key hole aperture to allow the headed screw to slide across the said plug receiver member and lock firmly in position. The panels are joined by inserting the headed screw into the wide part of the key hole aperture. To lock the headed screw, the assembler slides the headed screw towards the narrow side of the key-hole center.

Now describing the second preferred embodiment, a securing plug receiver member has a circular center with a tapering of the center to its narrowest diameter of 6.4 mm at a depth of 2 mm. The panels are joined by inserting the headed screw into the center of plug receiver member. The assembler applies pressure direction on the top of the headed screw until it pops into a locked position inside of the plug receiver member.

These and other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following Detailed Description and an Exemplary Embodiments when taken in conjunction with the claims and drawing figures herein described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the cavity within the plug receiver member in the first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the key hole aperture in the top portion and the annular rib rings on the exterior side of the plug receiver member in the first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the cavity within the plug receiver member in the first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view illustrating the key hole aperture and the shallow longitudinal depression in the top portion of the plug receiver member in the first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the cavities in the top and bottom portions of the plug receiver member in the first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the cavities in the top and bottom portions of the plug receiver member in the second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the circular aperture and depression in the top portion of the plug receiver member in the second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional perspective view illustrating the cavities in the top and bottom portions of the plug receiver member in the second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view illustrating the circular aperture in the top portion of the plug receiver member in the second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the plug receiver member in the second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an elevation view of the shank with concave head and flange in the first and second preferred embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the shank with concave head and flange in the first and second preferred embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-12, a home or office attachment structure generally include a plug receiver 10, 11 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, respectfully), and a shank with concave head 12 (shown in FIG. 12). Referring now to FIG. 12, Shank 12 has a head portion 13 and a body portion 14, with body portion 14 with a helical thread 15 thereon. Preferably, the diameter of the head portion 16 is greater than the diameter of the body portion 17 as shown in FIG. 11.

The plug receiver 10 (shown in FIG. 2) includes at least a bore 18. Bore 18 has a diameter sized to accept insertion of the head portion 13 (shown in FIG. 12), but preferably not body portion 17.

The plug receiver 10, 19 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7) includes an annular body 20 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7) having a plurality of axially spaced ribs 21 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7) which each present a chamfered underside and a bore for accepting a shank 12 (shown in FIG. 12) extending therethrough to both ends of the extremities. Thus, in the first preferred embodiment, the plug receiver 10 (shown in FIG. 2) is substantially a nut like member having a key-shaped bore 21 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 4) extending therethrough with annular ribs 21 (shown in FIG. 2) of predetermined diameter incorporated around the circumference of the plug receiver 10 (shown in FIG. 2). In the second preferred embodiment, the plug 19 (shown in FIG. 7) is substantially a nut like member having a circular bore 22 (shown in FIGS. 7 and 9) extending therethrough with annular ribs 21 (shown in FIG. 7) of predetermined diameter incorporated around the circumference of the plug receiver 19 (shown in FIG. 7). The annular rib 21 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7) is disposed generally along the length or top to bottom of the plug receiver 10, 19 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7).

Intermediate the extremities of shank 12 (shown in FIG. 12)is a radially extending flange 22 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) which serves to limit the degree of axial insertion into a workpiece. While a thin flange is shown, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that a different head of a much greater axial extent can be utilized.

And it is further relieved by a transverse key-shaped bore 21 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 4) adapted to accept and accomodate the head 13 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) of the shank. The first portion of the shank 12 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12), therefore, is defined by a concave head 13 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) with predrilled slots 23 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) on the top portion of the head for receiving gripping tools such as screwdriver.

In the first preferred embodiment, the surface of the receiving bore 21 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is a key shaped hole adapted to accept and accomodate the headed shank 12 (FIGS. 11 and 12) while the lower cavity 24 (FIGS. 3 and 5) of the slot is football shaped adapted so that the head of the shank 13 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) may be axially eased into a locking position whereby inadvertent withdrawal of the headed shank 12 (FIGS. 11 and 12) is prevented.

Additionally, the annular ribs 21 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7) is deflectable in substantially around the circumference of the plug receiver member 10, 19 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7) as in precession along its axis and insuring that the plug receiver member 10, 19 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7) to be in oriented relationship relative to the axis of the shank 12 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12).

The head 13 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) of the shank 12 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) has a hemisphere shape with an abrupt planar end and a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of bore 25 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 8) but less than the predetermined diameter of the annular ring or shoulder 26 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6).

In the operation of the second preferred embodiment, the headed portion 13 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) of the shank 12 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) is inserted in a circular collar 27 (shown in FIG. 6) positioned between the outer and the inner bores that is slightly smaller in diameter than the diametrical extend of the head. The insertion of the rigid headed shank 12 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) into the bore of a prefabricated panel results in a deflection of the circular collar 27 (shown in FIG. 6) thereby allowing entry into the inner bore 28 (shown in FIG. 6) of greater diameter than the outer bore 29 (shown in FIG. 6) yet providing a secure frictionally fastening in the prefabricated panel. The plug receiver 10, 11 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, respectfully) is introduced into a complementary pre-drilled hole in the prefabricated panels with the shouldered annular ribs 21 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7) digging into the fiberous material from which the panel is fabricated. Since the holes are in general alignment, the head 13 (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) will be readily accepted within the cavity for plug receiver with the head to engage the inner or backside thereof. The plug receiver member 10, 11 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, respectfully) is capable of being deflected laterally to accept minor tolerance variations in the alignment of the prefabricated panel holes.

The plug receiver member 10, 11 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, respectfully) can be prefabricated by injection molding of thermoplastic materials such as nylon, acetal or any other known thermoplastic material providing the necessary quality qualities of lubricity and structural strength. Thus, the present invention has shown a novel device of a headed shank acceptable with a plug receiver member which can be economically produced and inserted with a minimum of labor in two work pieces which are to be held in juxtaposed position.

Other embodiments of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. Possible applications of the plug receiver member and screw assembly include, but are not limited to, home furnishing, commercial furnishing, store display fixtures, installation of blinds/drapery, shelving, and portable accessories. It is intended that the specification and examples to be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims. 

1. A plug receiver member and screw assembly for affixing two sections of panel members together comprising: an elongate shank having a head with a convex portion having a substantially hemisphere or half elliptic sphere shaped which is integrally molded with an annular body having a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion having a reduced diameter in relation to the head portion, said bottom portion having a greater diameter in relation to the head portion, and the centroid region of a flange intersects said top and bottom portions of said body; an elongate shank having a proximal end and a distal end; and along a portion of shank between the proximal end and the distal end having a thread thereon; the said thread further comprising a helical pitch having a substantially constant value between proximal and the distal end; the plug receiver member further comprising a body having an aperture therethrough for receiving the shank; the plug receiver member further comprising a top portion and a bottom portion; the plug receiver member further comprising the outer walls having a plurality of axially spaced ribs which each presents a chambered underside for preventing inadvertent withdrawal from the insertion holes of panel members; the plug receiver member further comprising a channel therethrough opposite the aperture, the channel receiving the elongate shank; and wherein said shank extending axially longitudinal through said longitudinal channel and frictionally slidable therewithin to the terminal end of the channel opposite said entry position of aperture to hold said shank in a single position relative to said plug receiver member; and head portion of the shank as being received with the chamber of the plug receiver member under the condition that the protrusion is receive within the cavity wherein successive sideway pressure projects the said head portion into an inner cavity of a narrower slit of said channel which cooperates with the outer wall of said channel to sandwich the said head portion therebetween.
 2. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said plug receiver member having a plurality of grooves disposed on the outer walls and transversely positioned to formed rings of the chambered underside elements.
 3. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the plug receiver member is formed of plastic or other materials capable of providing sufficient friction to hold said head of the shank in a fixed position.
 4. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the shank is formed of metallic material, plastic material, and other materials capable of providing sufficient rigidity to affix the plurality of panels without breakage of any portion of the shank.
 5. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein key hole shaped aperture is aligned along an axis in the longitudinal direction and disposed in a substantially shallow depression fixed by two perpendicular edges of the said depression above the top portion of said plug receiver member.
 6. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the plug receiver member having a U-shaped channel in the bottom portion of the plug receiver member.
 7. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein said depression is a longitudinal slot having a width greater than said U-shaped channel and is aligned along the longitudinal axis of said channel.
 8. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein top portion of said annular body is substantially shorter in the longitudinally axial direction than said bottom portion of said annular body.
 9. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said plug receiver members fastens to a plurality of holes dispose in said panel members axially aligned.
 10. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said shanks fasten to a plurality of holes disposed in said complementary panel members axially aligned.
 11. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said plug receiver member having opposite axial ends.
 12. A plug receiver member and screw assembly for affixing two sections of panel members together comprising: an elongate shank having a head with a convex portion having a substantially hemisphere or half elliptic sphere shaped which is integrally molded with an annular body having a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion having a reduced diameter in relation to the head portion, said bottom portion having a greater diameter in relation to the head portion, and the centroid region of a flange intersects said top and bottom portions of said body; an elongate shank having a proximal end and a distal end; and along a portion of shank between the proximal end and the distal end having a thread thereon; the thread having a helical pitch having a helical pitch having a substantially constant value between proximal and the distal end; the plug receiver member further comprising a body having an aperture therethrough for receiving the shank; the plug receiver member further comprising the outer walls having a plurality of axially spaced ribs which each presents a chambered underside for preventing inadvertent withdrawal from the insertion holes of panel members; the plug receiver member further comprising an outer and inner bores therethrough, the said bores receiving the elongate shank; and wherein said shank extending through said outer and inner bores and frictionally slidable therewithin to the terminal end of the inner bore opposite said entry position of aperture to hold said shank in a single position relative to said plug receiver member; head portion of the shank as being received with the chamber of the plug receiver member under the condition that the protrusion is receive within the cavity wherein successive downward pressure projects the head portion into an inner cavity of a narrower waist which cooperates with the outer wall to sandwich the head portion therebetween; and the inner bore having a radius of circumference which is less than a radius of curvature of the convex portion of said head portion of shank whereby to create an interference fit between the convex portion of the head and the walls of said inner bore of the receiver.
 13. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said outer bore is integrally coupled to said inner bore; said outer bore extending from the lip of the plug receiver member to the integrally coupled intersection of the outer and inner bores in a series of decreasing circumferences whereby the walls of said outer bore is sloped.
 14. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said inner bore further comprising of a plurality of grooves disposed on the walls of said inner bore.
 15. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said plug receiver member having a plurality of grooves disposed on the outer walls transverse to formed rings of the chambered underside elements thereon.
 16. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the plug receiver member is formed of plastic or other materials capable of providing sufficient friction to hold said head of the shank in a fixed position.
 17. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the shank is formed of metallic material, plastic material, and other materials capable of providing sufficient rigidity to affix the plurality of panels without breakage of any portion of the shank.
 18. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein circular aperture is situated in the centroid region of said sloped depression in the top portion of said plug receiver member.
 19. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said inner bore having a circular shape in the bottom portion and said outer bore having an inverted cone shape with sloping walls in the top portion of the plug receiver member.
 20. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein top portion of said annular body of shank is substantially shorter in the longitudinally axial direction than said bottom portion of said annular body.
 21. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said plug receiver members fastens to a plurality of holes dispose in said panel members axially aligned.
 22. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein said shanks fasten to a plurality of holes disposed in said complementary panel members axially aligned.
 23. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 21, wherein said plug receiver member having opposite axial ends.
 24. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said circular aperture further comprises a tapering of the centroid region to its narrowest diameter of 6.4 millimeter thereof.
 25. The plug receiver member and screw assembly as recited in claim 24, wherein said circular aperture further comprises the centroid collar region permitting the head portion of said shank to extend to a depth of 2 millimeter beyond said collar region.
 26. For a plug receiver member and screw system for affixing two sections of panel members together, a method for providing a fast and convenient system for securing a plurality of home or office furnishing panels together without the use of tools, said method comprising the steps: providing an elongate shank having a head with a convex portion having a substantially hemisphere or half elliptic sphere shaped which is integrally molded with an annular body having a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion having a reduced diameter in relation to the head portion, said bottom portion having a greater diameter in relation to the head portion, and the centroid region of a flange intersects said top and bottom portions of said body; providing an elongate shank having a proximal end and a distal end; and along a portion of shank between the proximal end and the distal end having a thread thereon; providing a thread having a helical pitch having a helical pitch having a substantially constant value between proximal and the distal end; providing a plug receiver member further comprising a body having an aperture therethrough for receiving the shank; providing a plug receiver member further comprising a top portion and a bottom portion; providing a plug receiver member further comprising the outer walls having a plurality of axially spaced ribs which each presents a chambered underside for preventing inadvertent withdrawal from the insertion holes of panel members; providing a plug receiver member further comprising a channel therethrough opposite the aperture, the channel receiving the elongate shank; and wherein said shank extending axially longitudinal through said longitudinal channel and frictionally slidable therewithin to the terminal end of the channel opposite said entry position of aperture to hold said shank in a single position relative to said plug receiver member; providing a head portion of the shank as being received within the chamber of the plug receiver member under the condition that the protrusion is receive within the cavity wherein successive downward pressure projects the said head portion into an inner cavity of a narrower waist of said channel which cooperates with the outer wall of said channel to sandwich the said head portion therebetween; providing a plug receiver member having a plurality of grooves disposed on the outer walls transverse to the formed rings of the chambered underside elements; providing a plug receiver member which is formed of plastic or other materials capable of providing sufficient friction to hold said head of the shank in a fixed position; providing a shank which is formed of metallic material, plastic material, and other materials capable of providing sufficient rigidity to affix the plurality of panels without breakage of any portion of the shank; providing a key hole shaped aperture in the top portion of said plug receiver member element which is aligned along an axis in the longitudinal direction and disposed in a substantially shallow depression fixed by two perpendicular edges of the said depression above the top portion of said plug receiver member; providing a plug receiver member having a U-shaped channel in the bottom portion of the plug receiver member; providing a depression in the top portion of plug receiver member which is a longitudinal slot having a width greater than said U-shaped channel and is aligned along the longitudinal axis of said channel; providing a top portion of said annular body which is substantially shorter in the longitudinally axial direction than said bottom portion of said annular body; means for fastening plug receiver members to a plurality of holes dispose in said panel members axially aligned; and means for fastening shanks to a plurality of holes disposed in said complementary panel members axially aligned.
 27. For a plug receiver member and screw system for affixing two sections of panel members together, a method for providing a fast and convenient system for securing a plurality of home or office furnishing panels together without the use of tools, said method comprising the steps: providing an elongate shank having a head with a convex portion having a substantially hemisphere or half elliptic sphere shaped which is integrally molded with an annular body having a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion having a reduced diameter in relation to the head portion, said bottom portion having a greater diameter in relation to the head portion, and the centroid region of a flange intersects said top and bottom portions of said body; providing an elongate shank having a proximal end and a distal end; and along a portion of shank between the proximal end and the distal end having a thread thereon; providing a thread having a helical pitch having a helical pitch having a substantially constant value between proximal and the distal end; providing a plug receiver member further comprising a body having an aperture therethrough for receiving the shank; providing a plug receiver member further comprising the outer walls having a plurality of axially spaced ribs which each presents a chambered underside for preventing inadvertent withdrawal from the insertion holes of panel members; providing a plug receiver member further comprising an outer and inner bores therethrough, the said bores receiving the elongate shank; and wherein said shank extending through said outer and inner bores and frictionally slidable therewithin to the terminal end of the inner bore opposite said entry position of aperture to hold said shank in a single position relative to said plug receiver member; providing a head portion of the shank as being received with the chamber of the plug receiver member under the condition that the protrusion is receive within the cavity wherein successive downward pressure projects the head portion into an inner cavity of a narrower waist which cooperates with the outer wall to sandwich the head portion therebetween; providing a plug receiver member with the inner bore having a radius of circumference which is less than a radius of curvature of the convex portion of said head portion of shank whereby to create an interference fit between the convex portion of the head and the walls of said inner bore of the receiver; providing a plug receiver member wherein said outer bore is coupled to said inner bore; said outer bore extending from the lip of the plug receiver member to the coupled intersection of the outer and inner bores in a series of decreasing circumferences whereby the walls of said outer bore is sloped; providing a plug receiver member wherein said inner bore further comprising of a plurality of grooves disposed on the walls of said inner bore; providing a plug receiver member having a plurality of grooves disposed on the outer walls transverse to formed rings of the chambered underside elements thereon; providing a plug receiver member which is formed of plastic or other materials capable of providing sufficient friction to hold said head of the shank in a fixed position; providing a screw in the plug receiver member and screw assembly wherein the shank is formed of metallic material, plastic material, and other materials capable of providing sufficient rigidity to affix the plurality of panels without breakage of any portion of the shank; providing a plug receiver member comprising said inner bore having a circular shape in the bottom portion and said outer bore having an inverted cone shape with sloping walls in the top portion of the plug receiver member; providing a plug receiver member wherein the top portion of said annular body of shank is substantially shorter in the longitudinally axial direction than said bottom portion of said annular body; providing a plug receiver member which fastens to a plurality of holes dispose in said panel members axially aligned; and providing a shank in the plug receiver member and screw assembly which fastens to a plurality of holes disposed in said complementary panel members axially aligned. 